J.Crew Group Provides Progress Update And Reports Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year Financial Results
J.Crew Group Provides Progress Update And Reports Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year Financial Results
March 26, 2004 at 12:00 AM EST
J.Crew Group Provides Progress Update And Reports Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year Financial Results
Fourth Quarter Results
Retail sales for the quarter increased to $131 million from $128 million last year with comparable store sales up 2%. Factory sales increased to $23 million from $18 million last year on a 26% increase in comparable store sales. Fourth quarter revenue results were negatively impacted by the Direct business, which was down $37 million or 43% from last year, largely as a result of reduced catalog circulation and promotional activities.
Consolidated revenues for the thirteen weeks ended January 31, 2004 were $209 million, a decrease of 14% from the same period last year. The Company also believes that a conservative inventory purchasing plan had a negative effect on fourth quarter sales in all channels of distribution. Based on positive customer response, inventories will be increased in the second half of 2004 while maintaining appropriate inventory turns.
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2003 was 38.9% up from last year's 35.5%. The increase in gross margin was due to an increase of 490 basis points in merchandise margins offset by an increase in buying and occupancy costs as a percentage of revenues. The 2002 gross margin was impacted by a $9 million inventory write down. As a result, the comparable year-to-year merchandise margin increased by 120 basis points.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $2 million up from a loss of $2 million last year. The fourth quarter of 2002 was impacted by one-time charges of $17 million. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2003 decreased to $19 million from $21 million last year.
Despite the decrease in earnings, the Company's working capital position and liquidity was positively impacted in fiscal 2003 by the changes in inventory disposition strategy, the additional long-term debt financing and a decrease in capital expenditures. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Company's working capital facility at the end of the fiscal year. Cash at January 31, 2004 was $49 million up from $18 million at February 1, 2003 while inventories were down $41 million to $66 million.
Full Year Results
Sales of the Retail division were flat at $408 million with a comparable store sales decrease of 3%. Factory sales increased to $79 million from $76 million last year as a result of a 4% comparable store sales increase. Sales of the Direct division were $173.5 million in fiscal 2003, a decrease of 30%.
For the full year, consolidated revenues decreased 10% to $688 million from $766 million last year. Gross margin for the fiscal year was down to 36.7% in 2003 from 38.7% last year due primarily to a decrease in merchandise margins resulting from the liquidation of prior seasons' inventories in the first half of the year.
The operating loss in 2003 was $28 million compared to $6 million last year. The increased loss resulted primarily from the decrease in gross profit attributable to the decline in net sales of the Direct business and the liquidation of prior season's inventories. This was partially offset by a $14 million decrease in selling expense due to reduced catalog circulation and a reduction in severance and other one-time employment charges of $10 million. For the fiscal year, the net loss increased to $47 million compared to $41 million last year. The net loss for 2003 includes a $41.1 million gain on the exchange of debt.
Fourth Quarter Conference Call
The Company's fourth quarter investor conference call will be held today, March 26, 2003 at 11 a.m. eastern time. The event will be available through an audio webcast at www.jcrew.com (click on "Help" and "Investor Relations") and www.companyboardroom.com. A replay of the call will be archived on those websites and will also be available by telephone through April 2, 2004 at (888) 286-8010, reference #83658905.
J.Crew Group, Inc. is a leading retailer of men's and women's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company operates 154 retail stores, the J.Crew catalog business, jcrew.com, and 42 factory outlet stores.
NEW YORK (March 26, 2004) - J. Crew Group, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 31, 2004.
In releasing its results, the Company cited continued progress in its turnaround, with significant changes during the first year of new leadership, including:
- Upgrading the style and quality of merchandise assortments
- Significantly reducing discounting activity
- Aggressively liquidating carryover inventories. Year over year, inventories declined by more than $40 million.
- Refocusing the Direct business (catalog and Internet)
- Introducing a new sourcing strategy consistent with the upgraded quality of merchandise
- Strengthening the management team with new talent
- Increasing the Company's cash position, which at the end of the fiscal year was $49 million, up from $18 million last year.
- Our 2004 year-to-date Retail comparable store sales are up 6%, while our Retail inventory levels are down 30%.
Fourth Quarter Results
Retail sales for the quarter increased to $131 million from $128 million last year with comparable store sales up 2%. Factory sales increased to $23 million from $18 million last year on a 26% increase in comparable store sales. Fourth quarter revenue results were negatively impacted by the Direct business, which was down $37 million or 43% from last year, largely as a result of reduced catalog circulation and promotional activities.
Consolidated revenues for the thirteen weeks ended January 31, 2004 were $209 million, a decrease of 14% from the same period last year. The Company also believes that a conservative inventory purchasing plan had a negative effect on fourth quarter sales in all channels of distribution. Based on positive customer response, inventories will be increased in the second half of 2004 while maintaining appropriate inventory turns.
Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2003 was 38.9% up from last year's 35.5%. The increase in gross margin was due to an increase of 490 basis points in merchandise margins offset by an increase in buying and occupancy costs as a percentage of revenues. The 2002 gross margin was impacted by a $9 million inventory write down. As a result, the comparable year-to-year merchandise margin increased by 120 basis points.
Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2003 was $2 million up from a loss of $2 million last year. The fourth quarter of 2002 was impacted by one-time charges of $17 million. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2003 decreased to $19 million from $21 million last year.
Despite the decrease in earnings, the Company's working capital position and liquidity was positively impacted in fiscal 2003 by the changes in inventory disposition strategy, the additional long-term debt financing and a decrease in capital expenditures. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Company's working capital facility at the end of the fiscal year. Cash at January 31, 2004 was $49 million up from $18 million at February 1, 2003 while inventories were down $41 million to $66 million.
Full Year Results
Sales of the Retail division were flat at $408 million with a comparable store sales decrease of 3%. Factory sales increased to $79 million from $76 million last year as a result of a 4% comparable store sales increase. Sales of the Direct division were $173.5 million in fiscal 2003, a decrease of 30%.
For the full year, consolidated revenues decreased 10% to $688 million from $766 million last year. Gross margin for the fiscal year was down to 36.7% in 2003 from 38.7% last year due primarily to a decrease in merchandise margins resulting from the liquidation of prior seasons' inventories in the first half of the year.
The operating loss in 2003 was $28 million compared to $6 million last year. The increased loss resulted primarily from the decrease in gross profit attributable to the decline in net sales of the Direct business and the liquidation of prior season's inventories. This was partially offset by a $14 million decrease in selling expense due to reduced catalog circulation and a reduction in severance and other one-time employment charges of $10 million. For the fiscal year, the net loss increased to $47 million compared to $41 million last year. The net loss for 2003 includes a $41.1 million gain on the exchange of debt.
Fourth Quarter Conference Call
The Company's fourth quarter investor conference call will be held today, March 26, 2003 at 11 a.m. eastern time. The event will be available through an audio webcast at www.jcrew.com (click on "Help" and "Investor Relations") and www.companyboardroom.com. A replay of the call will be archived on those websites and will also be available by telephone through April 2, 2004 at (888) 286-8010, reference #83658905.
J.Crew Group, Inc. is a leading retailer of men's and women's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company operates 154 retail stores, the J.Crew catalog business, jcrew.com, and 42 factory outlet stores.